By Emily Koehn, Dispatch Coordinator
Since its humble beginnings in 1944, Lee Company has grown into a phenomenal success. With more than 1,600 employees and eleven regional offices, with customers in four different states, the past 80 years have presented this company with endless opportunities for growth. In any business setting, financial success is, of course, relevant. But we at Lee Company keep service and community outreach at the forefront of our minds. This is how we’ve managed to promote our mission and demonstrate our standards to all customers and employees. With 80+ years of practice, Lee Company has had a long and illustrious history, developing a sense of legacy. How will the company and the many men and women who have been employed here be remembered?
Celebrating Longtime Employees and Their Impact
Lynn L.: Leading with Dedication and Joy in Customer Experience
Lynn L., Senior Customer Experience Advocate for Home Services, reminisces of her days starting out with the Home Services Contact Center, 19 years ago. “I was one of four customer service representatives,” Lynn says. “And look at us now! When I leave here, I want to look back and know that I made a difference. For the many customer experience advocates and dispatchers of the Contact Center, Lynn will be remembered for her strive for excellence, hard work, and the joy she brings to those around her.
Rachel B.: Building a Lasting Legacy in Special Projects
Rachel B. will be celebrating 21 years with Lee Company in November of this year. Rachel is a Project Assistant for Special Projects and has watched our company expand and grow to new heights. “There were less than 600 people employed when I came to work at Lee Company. Now we are in three states and have many community offices and have a multitude of services available to serve our customers.” Rachel believes that Lee Company’s legacy will be a lasting one, in the improvements we’ve made to the community. “Lee Company’s legacy will be seen in the Nashville skyline for years to come. It will also be felt in the charitable work that has touched many lives in our community.” Rachel has become an integral part of the Special Projects team, and there’s no doubt that her legacy will reflect how important she’s been to Lee Company. “I want my legacy with Lee Company to be one of dependability and excellence. I’ve always strived to be the best assistant I can be to make my Project Managers’ jobs easier.”
Karl M.: Craftsmanship and Quality in Manufacturing
Karl M., a Manufacturing Technician, is celebrating 46 years of service with us. “My time at Lee Company started in 1978. I had a good friend working here at the time and he persuaded me to come here after I had just been laid off at the printing company I was working for at the time.” Karl began as a helper in the sheet metal shop and worked his way up to teaching and training other sheet metal workers all over Middle Tennessee. “Back then, Guys in the field or even the office would come up to me and ask, “Can you make this?” and my reply would be, “If you can draw it, I can build it.” So far, I’ve managed to live up to that.” Karl would like his legacy to be one of quality work and craftsmanship. “I hope I’ll be remembered as “That Sheet metal Shop Guy” who always puts extra time and effort into making a quality product rather than just quickly tossing something out the door. I understand that customers pay hundreds of dollars, or thousands of dollars for what “we” produce, and I’ve always done my best to make it right.” Karl will certainly be remembered for years to come, and we will be measuring our quality and innovation next to the example that he has left for us.
Emily K.: A Family Tradition of Perseverance and Opportunity
Personally, I’ve been blessed by Lee Company. I started my career in the Contact Center in 2020, just as the company was navigating unchartered waters amid a national pandemic. I got to see what it means for a business to not only survive under pressure but to thrive as well. Lee Company has been good to my family. My father, Scott G., began as an installation helper in 1999, and he is now the Operations Manager of Knoxville Special Projects. Many other members of my family have prospered through Lee Company, so for me, joining the family, was a no-brainer. Though I had barely any job experience, I was given a chance as a customer experience advocate. I am still with our Home Services’ Contact Center, and I have been blessed by an incredible group of people to work with. I, too, hope to leave behind a legacy of perseverance.
Looking to the Future with Wisdom and Experience
Lee Company owes a great deal of its success to its many incredible employees who exemplify what it means to have a servant’s heart. With many celebrating their career milestones of 20, 30, and even 45 years of service, these are the people who have watched our company flourish throughout the years. We look to their wisdom and experience to help us develop our future. Every employee in the last 80 years has had their own personal impact on Lee Company. That is why this company is so much more than a titan of business – it’s a collection of different personalities, talents, and unique experiences that make an impact on the world then and now.
